Newsletters

• December Newsletter Translatable Version

  Wed 29 Nov 2017

  Newsletter

  December 2017

   

  The programme and activities during December are centred around the excitement and enjoyment of Christmas so there is plenty of glitter, shiny silver/gold things and red and green in use. Our aim remains, of course to provide good learning opportunities for all the children.

   

  Parent Volunteers

  December is a very busy time in Nursery school- we are always grateful for parent volunteers willing to help with any Christmas arts/crafts/general activities. Let us know if you can help in any way. Thank you for all your support.

   

  NEWS

  Applications for P1 are available online (29^th November)www.eani.org.uk/admissions or can be collected from local primary schools.

   

  Application forms for nursery are available online (29^th November) www.eani.org.uk/admissions or by calling in person to school. Closing date for applications is Wednesday 10^th January at 12 noon.

   

  Open Days for Primary Schools

   

  Elmgrove Primary- 5^th December (Avoniel Site)

  Belmont Primary- Contact Belmont School Office to arrange an appointment

  Dundela Primary- Contact Dundela School Office to arrange an appointment

  Greenwood Primary- Contact Greenwoods Principal for an appointment.

  Euston Street Primary- 30^th November

  Harding Memorial Primary- 11th December

  Loughview Integrated Primary- 30^th November

  Nettlefield Primary- Contact Nettlefield School Office to arrange an appointment

  St Josephs Primary- 29^th November

  Victoria Park Primary School-14^th December

   

  More details can be found by visiting the Primary Schools Websites, or contacting their school office directly.

   

  Cold Weather

  Please bring in a set of hats/gloves for your child (labelled with their name) to stay in school. No scarves/snoods are permitted.

   

   

   

  CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT

   

   

  On Thursday 7^th December we will be having a ‘Christmas Movie’ Afternoon in our Nursery. Time -4pm. Please come along and enjoy watching a movie on our big screen with your family in a warm, relaxed and child friendly environment.

  We have secured funding from Family Friendly Belfast to provide some ‘winter warming food’. A warm buffet of soup and stew made from seasonal locally grown ingredients.

   

  We also invite you to bring along your favourite winter warming recipe to share with other families through seesaw.

   

  This is a free event as Belfast City Council have enabled us to provide/cover food and admission.

   

  A snack pack will also be available to purchase at the cost price of £1- this will include a drink and some sweets.

   

  Would you be able to confirm if you are able to attend (and numbers attending) by Friday 1^st December? A sign up sheet is outside your childs classroom.

   

   

  FRIDGE MAGNETS

  We will be selling photograph fridge magnets. They will have a beautiful photo of your child and make excellent stocking fillers. Price £2 each. If you wish to place an order, please let your teacher know asap.

   

   

  SEESAW

  We hope that you are enjoying the seesaw app. Please let us know if you have any thoughts/ideas for its use. Remember, the Q code may be shared with other family members- they are bound by the same confidentiality/social media agreement which was signed at the outset.

   

  There are a few special events that have been arranged, as follows:

   

  TUESDAY 28^TH NOVEMBER

  The Principal and staff of Harding Memorial Primary School have most kindly invited our children to view a performance of the KS1 Christmas Nativity. We will travel by bus (provided by Harding Memorial) to the show, and will be back in nursery in time for

  dinner.

   

   

   

   

  OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 30^TH NOVEMBER

  We will be holding an Open Evening from 7pm-8pm for parents interested in sending their child to Ravenscroft next year. Please pass on this information to anyone interested.

   

  WEDNESDAY 6^TH DECEMBER

  Visit from Santa’s E.L.F. (Environmental Litter Friend), who will discuss environmental issues with the children

   

  THURSDAY 7^TH DECEMBER

  ‘Jumping Clay’ Christmas Workshop for parents 9.30-10.30, with our Jumping Clay expert Miss Steed. Please let us know in advance if you wish to come along so we can order/organise materials, thanks.

   

   

  MONDAY 11th DECEMBER

  The Principal and staff of Elmgrove Primary School (Old Avoniel Site) have most kindly invited our children to view a performance of the KS1 Christmas show. We will travel by bus to and from the school. We need some parent volunteers for this please. We will return by bus to nursery for dinners.

   

  WEDNESDAY 13^TH DECEMBER

  The Children will have Christmas dinner today

  Christmas Dinner” provided by school meals. We try to make this a special meal time by decorating the tables, having crackers and Xmas music

   

  THURSDAY 14^TH DECEMBER

  Pamper morning for parents hosted by Siobhain our parent worker.

   

  CS Lewis Square hosting an event between 12.30-1.30pm. We plan to bring the Children over to join in the festivities. We would love to have as many parents along as volunteers, and to enjoy the event. Children to be picked up at CS Lewis Square that day at 1.30pm. More details to follow regarding arrangements for pickup.

   

  TUESDAY 19^TH DECEMBER

  You are invited to watch the Christmas nativity concert performed by the children of Ravenscroft at 11.00am. Please note that we operate a no camera phone/camera policy. Videos of the concert will be made available on seesaw as will individual photos of each child. Thankyou for your co-operation.

  Children go home at end of concert (no dinner).

   

  WEDNESDAY 20^th DECEMBER

  Last day of term. Christmas party for the children, AND Santas Grotto. No uniform!

  School finishes at 11.30am (no dinner).

   

  The school opens again on Wednesday 3^rd January at 9.00am. (Morning room 8.30am)

   

  Don’t forget to keep your Christmas cards/stamps and we will recycle them

• Open days for Primary Schools

  Wed 29 Nov 2017

  Open Days for Primary Schools

   

  Elmgrove Primary- 5^th December (Avoniel Site)

  Belmont Primary- Contact Belmont School Office to arrange an appointment

  Dundela Primary- Contact Dundela School Office to arrange an appointment

  Greenwood Primary- Contact Greenwoods Principal for an appointment.

  Euston Street Primary- 30^th November

  Harding Memorial Primary- 11th December

  Loughview Integrated Primary- 30^th November

  Nettlefield Primary- Contact Nettlefield School Office to arrange an appointment

  St Josephs Primary- 29^th November

  Victoria Park Primary School-14^th December

   

  More details can be found by visiting the Primary Schools Websites, or contacting their school office directly.

• Criteria for preschool place: Ravenscroft Nursery School

  Wed 29 Nov 2017
  Admissions criteria for entry September 2018 Updated November 2017 www.eani.org.uk/admissions RAVENSCROFT NURSERY SCHOOL Controlled Nursery School RAVENSCROFT AVENUE Co-educational BELFAST BT5 5BA Enrolment No: 52 Full-time Places Telephone No: 028 9047 1684 Website: www.ravenscroftnursery.co.uk Email: ravenscroftns@btconnect.com Principal: Mrs Nuala Symington B.Ed (Hons) ACE PQH (NI) Chair of Board of Governors: Mr Edward Wilson Respective Functions The Board of Governors has drawn up the selection criteria which will be applied at first preference stage by a Selection SubCommittee consisting of the Principal and three Governors subject to the final approval of the Board of Governors. At second and later preference stages, the Principal and Chair of Governors will apply the admissions criteria subject to the final approval of the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors has determined that in the event of there being more applicants than places available, the following criteria in order of the priority set down will be applied, to select children for admission. Please note that children who are resident in Northern Ireland will be considered for places prior to those children who are non-resident in Northern Ireland. ADMISSIONS CRITERIA Priority will be given to those applicants that place Ravenscroft Nursery School as their first preference. 1 Children born between 2 July 2014 and 1 July 2015 whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are from socially disadvantaged circumstances. 2 Children born between 2 July 2014 and 1 July 2015. Note: Children from ‘socially disadvantaged circumstances’ means a child whose parent is in receipt of (i) Income Support, or (ii) Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or (iii) an award of Income Support which has been converted into an Employment and Support Allowance and the level of benefit remains the same, or (iv) Universal Credit. When parents apply for places for their child on this basis they must have their application form stamped by the Social Security /Jobs and Benefits Office to confirm that they are in receipt of a qualifying payment. Sub-criteria In the event of the school being over-subscribed within any of the above the following sub-criteria will be applied in the following order: a Children whose parent/grandparent is a permanent member of staff/member of the school’s Governing Body. b Children whose sibling/half sibling currently attends or previously attended Ravenscroft Nursery School (name and date of attendance must be supplied on application form) or Children who are the eldest/only child in the family. c Twin or multiple births. d Other children. In the event of over subscription in the last sub-criterion which can be applied then selection for all places remaining in this category will be on the basis of children whose permanent residence is the shortest distance from the front door of their home to the front gate of the school. Places will be granted in order of priority determined by the proximity of the permanent residence to the school. Distance will be determined by a straight line measurement generated electronically using a computer programme provided by Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. In the event of two or more children’s permanent residence being measured equidistant for the final place, then The Board of Governors will fill the place by selecting on the basis of the initial letter of the surname as per the birth certificate as set out in the random alphabetical order below: G I J E L M H A F C K B D Mc Mac U V R N S W X Y Q O T P Z The order was determined by a randomized selection of letters of the alphabet. In the event of surnames beginning with the same letter the subsequent letters of the surname will be used in alphabetical order. In the event of 2 identical surnames the alphabetical order of the initials of the forenames as per the birth certificate will be used. In the event of forenames beginning with the same letter, the subsequent letters of the forename will be used in alphabetical order. Admissions criteria for entry September 2018 Updated November 2017 www.eani.org.uk/admissions In the event of vacancies remaining after the above criteria have been applied, the following criterion will be applied to other applicants. Non Statutory Criteria 3 Children born between 2 July 2015 and 1 July 2016, on the basis of age ie eldest first. In the event of two children sharing a date of birth, then the place will be allocated on the basis of the initial letter of the surname as per the birth certificate as set out in the random alphabetical order above. Duty to Verify The Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any applicant’s Application Form. The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information within the deadlines set by pre-schools can result in the withdrawal of a place and the inability to offer a place on the part of any school nominated on the applicant’s Application Form. Waiting List Policy Should a vacancy arise after Friday 8 June 2018, all applications for admission to Ravenscroft Nursery School for 2018/19 that were initially refused, new applications, late applications and applications where new information has been provided will be treated equally and the published criteria applied. This waiting list will be in place until 30 June 2019. The school will contact you in writing if your child gains a place in the school by this method. Your child’s name will be automatically added to the list. Please contact the school if you wish for your child’s name to be removed from the list. When considering which children should be selected for admission, the Board of Governors will only take into account information which is detailed on or attached to the application form. Parents should therefore ensure that all information pertaining to their child and relevant to the school’s admissions criteria is stated on the application form or attached to it.

• November Newsletter 2017 Translatable Version

  Mon 06 Nov 2017

  NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

   

  The topics for November will be ‘Autumn’ and ‘People who help us’. We will be looking closely at signs of autumn in the environment and observing seasonal changes in weather and colours, and growth outdoors.

  We have an autumn table filled with items such as leaves, conkers, pine cones- please feel free to bring in anything you find in your gardens or whilst out walking.

   

  1. 1. Please encourage children not to bring any toys into school. Some ‘conflicts’ have already arisen over ‘favourite’ toys from home. Now that the children are well settled, they should no longer require a comfort toy from home.
         
     2. Eco Schools News

  This month we will be introducing our ‘EcoSchools’ classroom practice to the children. We will be encouraging re-cycling, awareness of litter/tidy environments and nominate an ‘Eco helper’ each day to take charge of the eco tasks.

  We will be planting indoors and outdoors. We will be taking time to turn off lights. The children will be meeting our ‘Eco bear’

  Ravenscroft has a compost bin and all our fruit peelings are now being recycled and will hopefully turn into compost.

   

  1. 1. Time to Talk

  The children will be beginning our ‘Time to Talk’ language programme. The children will enjoy meeting ‘Ginger Bear’ during the small group sessions and the programme will nurture social aspects of language development. We will keep you updated via the classroom notice boards.

  1. Symington will be running a Time to Talk Parents Workshop on Monday 13^th November. More details to follow.

   

  1. 1. Getting Ready to Learn

  Your child will have the opportunity to take home a Getting Ready to learn pack. A letter will be placed in your child’s cubby hole with some further details.

   

   

  1. Seesaw App

  The staff have been busy getting to know their way round this app and how it can be used to share information with families. We hope to explore this further over the course of the year. Sign up details will be going home soon. We hope that you will consider signing up and getting involved. More details about Seesaw can be found at https://web.seesaw.me

   

  1. Friday Music Mash

  Each Friday, Nursery one and Nursery two join together to enjoy music and songs. If there are any talented musicians out there you are very welcome to come along and join in on Friday afternoons, from about 1pm.

  Let us know in advance if you plan to do so. Thanks

   

  1. Dates for your diary.

  • School photographs will be taken on Friday 17^th November. Permission forms will be left in your childs cubby for completion.
  • Tuesday 7^th November- Mr Hullabaloo will pay a visit to the nursery.
  • Our open day will be held on Thursday 30^th November 7pm- 8pm for those who would like to apply for 2017/18 enrolment. Please spread the word to friends and family who may be interested J. We will also be having an intake open afternoon on 8^th January 2.30-3.30pm

  Applications for Nursery and Primary School places will be available from the end of November at www.eani.org.uk Application forms must be returned to your 1^st preference school no later than Wednesday 10^th January no later than 12pm.

  • Siobhain, our Parent worker, will be holding a coffee morning every Thursday after morning drop off. Lists of topics for discussion will be posted on the notice boards outside classroom.

   

  Some Important Future Dates for your Diary

   

  Tuesday 19^th December- Children’s Christmas Concert at 11.00. School finishes at 11.30pm (no dinners)

   

  Wednesday 20^th December- Christmas Party/Santa’s Grotto

  School finishes at 11.30pm for the holidays (no dinners)

   

  Friday 23^rd March- Easter Singalong

  Tea/Coffee for parents/grandparents at 10.30 followed by singalong at 11.00. School finishes at 11.30am

   

  Wednesday 6^th June- Family Fun Day

  1.30-3.30pm

   

  Don’t forget to check your children’s hair weekly for Head Lice.

  Why not make this part of your week-end routine?

   

  This Newsletter can be viewed on our website, and is translatable in our ‘latest news’ section, using Google Translate www.ravenscroftnursery.co.uk.

   

• Returners Party for 2016/17 Pupils

  Mon 06 Nov 2017
  We would like to invite our  pupils from 2016/17, now in Y1, with their parents to our Returners Party Wednesday 8th November 2.30-3.30pm. We would love to see our past pupils in their new Year 1 Uniforms. Hope to see you then.